Abstract: A method of producing an ion-conducting membrane containing a polymer having an ionic group, involves multiple liquid treatment steps in which a precursor membrane is brought into contact with an acid treatment solution or an alkali treatment solution, the precursor membrane containing a polymer in a state in which the aforementioned ionic group forms a salt with an impurity ion, wherein the liquid treatment time in the second and subsequent liquid treatment steps of the multiple liquid treatment steps is shorter than the liquid treatment time in the initial liquid treatment step.

Abstract: A method of producing an ion-conducting membrane containing a polymer having an ionic group, involves multiple liquid treatment steps in which a precursor membrane is brought into contact with an acid treatment solution or an alkali treatment solution, the precursor membrane containing a polymer in a state in which the aforementioned ionic group forms a salt with an impurity ion, wherein the liquid treatment time in the second and subsequent liquid treatment steps of the multiple liquid treatment steps is shorter than the liquid treatment time in the initial liquid treatment step.

Abstract: A continuous non-destructive inspection method for a membrane-electrode assembly includes detecting presence or absence of an internal foreign substance and an internal defect in the membrane-electrode assembly using a transmitted X-ray image obtained by repeating the steps of conveying the membrane-electrode assembly to a photographing position sandwiched between an X-ray imaging unit and an X-ray source disposed to face the X-ray imaging unit and that has a focal spot size of 50 ?m or less; temporarily stopping the conveyance of the membrane-electrode assembly and emitting X-rays from the X-ray source toward the X-ray imaging unit in a state where the membrane-electrode assembly stands still in the photographing position to take a transmitted X-ray image; and restarting the conveyance of the membrane-electrode assembly to move the membrane-electrode assembly from the photographing position.

Abstract: A polishing pad includes at least a cushion layer and a polishing layer including a groove, on a polishing surface, having side surfaces and a bottom surface, wherein at least one of the side surfaces includes a first side surface that extends continuously to the polishing surface and forms an angle ? with the polishing surface, and a second side surface that extends continuously to the first side surface and forms an angle ? with a plane parallel to the polishing surface, the angle ? is larger than 90 degrees, the angle ? is not smaller than 85 degrees, and the angle ? is smaller than the angle ?, a bending point depth is not less than 0.4 mm and not more than 3.0 mm, and the cushion layer has a distortion constant of not less than 7.3×10?6 ?m/Pa and not more than 4.4×10?4 ?m/Pa.

Abstract: A polishing pad for chemical mechanical polishing includes at least a polishing layer whose polishing surface includes a first groove and a second groove, the first and second grooves have side surfaces, which are continuous with the polishing surface, on each edge in a groove width direction, the first groove has an angle of larger than 105 degrees and 150 degrees or smaller, which is formed between the polishing surface and the side surface continuous with the polishing surface, on at least one edge in the groove width direction, and the second groove has an angle of 60 degrees or larger and 105 degrees or smaller, which is formed between the polishing surface and the side surface continuous with the polishing surface, on both of two edges in the groove width direction.

Abstract: A polishing pad at least includes a polishing layer, and a cushion layer, in which a plurality of holes is provided in the polishing layer, the holes passing through the polishing layer in a thickness direction, and a plurality of grooves is provided in a polishing surface of the polishing layer, a through hole ratio is from 0.13% or more to 2.1% or less, and angles made by the polishing surface and side surfaces of the groove, which continue to the polishing surface, is from 105 degrees or more to 150 degrees or less.

Abstract: A polishing pad comprising at least a polishing layer and a cushion layer, wherein a groove is formed on a polishing surface of the polishing pad, at least one of angles formed by the polishing surface and a side surface of the groove which continues to the polishing surface is 105-150° inclusive, and the cushion layer has a strain constant of 7.3×10?6 to 4.4×10?4 ?m/Pa inclusive. The use of the polishing pad can achieve a purpose of preventing the fluctuation in a polishing rate while keeping the polishing rate at a high level.

Abstract: A polishing pad includes at least a cushion layer and a polishing layer including a groove, on a polishing surface, having side surfaces and a bottom surface, wherein at least one of the side surfaces includes a first side surface that extends continuously to the polishing surface and forms an angle ? with the polishing surface, and a second side surface that extends continuously to the first side surface and forms an angle ? with a plane parallel to the polishing surface, the angle ? is larger than 90 degrees, the angle ? is not smaller than 85 degrees, and the angle ? is smaller than the angle ?, a bending point depth is not less than 0.4 mm and not more than 3.0 mm, and the cushion layer has a distortion constant of not less than 7.3×10?6 ?m/Pa and not more than 4.4×10?4 ?m/Pa.

Abstract: A polishing pad includes at least a polishing layer including a groove, on a polishing surface, having side surfaces, wherein at least one of the side surfaces includes a first side surface that extends continuously to the polishing surface and forms an angle ? with the polishing surface, and a second side surface that extends continuously to the first side surface and forms an angle ? with a plane parallel to the polishing surface, the angle ? is larger than 95 degrees, the angle ? is larger than 95 degrees, and the angle ? is smaller than the angle ?, and a bending point depth from the polishing surface to a bending point between the first side surface and the second side surface is more than 0.2 mm and not more than 3.0 mm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an interpenetrating polymer network structure, which comprises the steps of impregnating a polymer molding with a radical polymerizable composition containing an ethylenically unsaturated compound and a radical polymerization initiator; and polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated compound in a swollen state of the polymer molding impregnated with the radical polymerizable composition; wherein a chain transfer agent and/or a radical polymerization inhibitor are added to the radical polymerizable composition and/or the polymer molding before impregnating the polymer molding with the radical polymerizable composition. According to the present invention, a highly uniform interpenetrating polymer network structure can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an interpenetrating polymer network structure, which comprises the steps of impregnating a polymer molding with a radical polymerizable composition containing an ethylenically unsaturated compound and a radical polymerization initiator; and polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated compound in a swollen state of the polymer molding impregnated with the radical polymerizable composition; wherein a chain transfer agent and/or a radical polymerization inhibitor are added to the radical polymerizable composition and/or the polymer molding before impregnating the polymer molding with the radical polymerizable composition. According to the present invention, a highly uniform interpenetrating polymer network structure can be obtained.

Abstract: A digital modulating and demodulating device is compatible with both PDH and SDH signals by dividing and combining input signals in many directions with a matrix switching unit. The digital modulating and demodulating device is provided as a combination of two conventional PDH device with an SDH mapping circuit, an SDH demapping circuit, and an SDH interface for allowing SDH signals to be input to and output from the digital modulating and demodulating device. Since the matrix switching unit is capable of dividing and combining input signals in many directions, the digital modulating and demodulating device simultaneously provides interfaces for inputting and outputting a PDH baseband signal and an SDH signal, and makes it possible to combine conventional separate device for PDH and SDH signals with each other.

Abstract: A digital modulating and demodulating device is compatible with both PDH and SDH signals by dividing and combining input signals in many directions with a matrix switching unit. The digital modulating and demodulating device is provided as a combination of two conventional PDH device with an SDH mapping circuit, an SDH demapping circuit, and an SDH interface for allowing SDH signals to be input to and output from the digital modulating and demodulating device. Since the matrix switching unit is capable of dividing and combining input signals in many directions, the digital modulating and demodulating device simultaneously provides interfaces for inputting and outputting a PDH baseband signal and an SDH signal, and makes it possible to combine conventional separate device for PDH and SDH signals with each other.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer scale deposition preventive agent, comprising an alkaline solution of a condensation product having a molecular weight of 500 to 1,000,000 obtained by condensing a dimer compound of 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene with formaldehyde. By polymerizing vinyl chloride or a monomer mixture containing vinyl chloride in a polymerization vessel wherein a coating film made of said polymer scale deposition preventive agent has been formed on the inner wall surface and the like, polymer scale is effectively prevented from depositing not only on an agitation apparatus but also on areas near the interface between a gas phase and a liquid phase, which prevention of the polymer scale deposition is conventionally difficult. Thus, a vinyl chloride polymer can be obtained which contains colored foreign matters, fish eyes, etc. in small amounts and is small in initial discoloration and is good in quality.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer scale deposition preventive agent, comprising an alkaline solution of a condensation product having a molecular weight of 500 to 1,000,000 obtained by condensing a dimer compound of 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene with formaldehyde. By polymerizing vinyl chloride or a monomer mixture containing vinyl chloride in a polymerization vessel wherein a coating film made of said polymer scale deposition preventive agent has been formed on the inner wall surface and the like, polymer scale is effectively prevented from depositing not only on an agitation apparatus but also on areas near the interface between a gas phase and a liquid phase, which prevention of the polymer scale deposition is conventionally difficult. Thus, a vinyl chloride polymer can be obtained which contains colored foreign matters, fish eyes, etc. in small amounts and is small in initial discoloration and is good in quality.

Abstract: A gas heating apparatus has a cylindrical outer shell disposed along a duct in which a gas to be heated flows. A pre-mixture gas supply tube is connected to the outer shell. A combustion unit including a sintered fiber mat is provided inside the outer shell with a spacing being provided between outer shell and the sintered fiber mat. The combustion unit burns the pre-mixture gas on an inner surface of the sintered fiber mat. A diffusion burner is preferably provided upstream of the outer shell and of the combustion unit to increase the heating effect. With these constructions, it is possible to obtain a smaller-sized heating apparatus which produces a higher output.

Abstract: This invention discloses broad bandwidth optical fibers which have a broad bandwidth suitable for data-communication, are free from fiber cracking or chipping if a crimp-type connector is attached with sufficient pulling resistant force to hold the fiber firmly, minimize the connection loss through a small crimping optical loss and a accurate axial alignment, facilitate connection with existing GI quartz optical fibers, which have a fiber diameter of 125 .mu.m, and offer excellent compatibility with such existing GI quartz optical fibers. Broad bandwidth optical fibers pertaining to this invention are graded index broad bandwidth optical fibers fabricated from a core made of quartz-based glass with a graded refractive index profile, a quartz glass cladding provided over said core, and polymer covering layer provided over said cladding, with said polymer covering layer made of a UV-cured hard polymer with a Shore hardness of D 55 or more and a thickness of 5 .mu.m or more.

Abstract: To perform digital processing of cyclical waveform signals that include random noise with high accuracy and high reliability without being practically affected by the noise. This is a waveform signal processor into which cyclical waveform signals are input and which outputs corresponding signals. It samples a cyclical waveform signal a plurality of times and then, based upon the obtained sampling values, it performs a Fourier Transform for all the various cycles. Next, the phase angle of a pre-selected frequency component in the Fourier series is determined based upon the Fourier Transform. Then a sampling point at the same phase for all cycles is specified by using the phase angle as a reference. The average of the sampling values at the same phase is calculated and output.

Abstract: With the assumption of the bit number of one frame of a synchronous transport module to be S and the bit number of one radio frame in radio communication to be M, the bit number M of the radio frame is set to satisfy a relation S=K.M (K is a natural number other than 0). Hereby, the circuit construction of a SDH radio communiaction transmitter/receiver equipment is simplified and power consumption is reduced. In the case where a radio intermediate switching station is installed, the circuit construction of the intermediate station is simplified and power consumptuion is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high performance nonlinear optical device by utilizing an optical medium of large second order nonlinear optical effects, which has acceptable processability and stability. The second-order nonlinear optical device of the present invention comprises an optical element of a monoclinic crystal of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-4'-nitrostilbene represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## said crystal belonging to space group P2.sub.1, point group #4, said optical element having at least one substantially optically smooth surface.